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Israel on Monday dispatched several rescue and humanitarian aid teams to the Philippines, where at least 1,200 were killed when the country was devastated by a super-typhoon over the weekend.

Independent humanitarian organization IsraAID sent an advanced team of seven medical experts to scout out the situation and, as director Shahar Zahavi told The Jerusalem Post, "provide medical intervention."

Zahavi noted that the number one mission right now is to provide medical attention to the wounded who, following the widespread destruction, have no where else to turn.

Israel's Foreign Ministry also sent an advanced team of six officials to assess the situation before dispatching a larger mission, including expert search and rescue teams with vast experience in searching damaged building.

Israel has long been one of the first nations on the scene following major natural disasters. Most notably, Israel provided disproportionate assistance following the devastating earthquakes in Haita (2010) and Japan (2011).

Nor is Israel's assistance what Zahavi termed as "hit-and-run." IsraAID, for example, still has teams on the ground in both Haita and Japan.